It’s not just small companies looking to save money by seeking free/cheap design, sadly spec work occurs at all levels. The Huffington Post was bought by AOL for a reported $315,000,000 back in February 2011. Plenty of cash on the table to hire a designer to create a logo, right?

A logo is integral to a company’s branding and demands extensive thought and research. So why is The Huffington Post asking their users to create their logo.

"“Do you know your way around Photoshop or other design programs? Have a cool idea for a logo that screams ‘awesome politics coverage’?”"

What should they do? gather a team of representatives, contact Huffington Post and explain to them how this business works. Maybe HP understands, accepts they fuck up and shut it down (showing millions of business owners and 'clients' that design is not a joke). And if they don't, AIGA would get SOME sort of credibility from designers who pay WAY too much for a useless membership...

Related... Why is every other industry so quick to move on copyright or patent infringement, but we have little more than half-assed name and shame campaigns that puts the onus on the designer to defend himself from the Br_tt B_shes of the world?

This is a good opportunity for all of us to create a parody logo, I'm sure if there are enough of us, we could make a spectacle... which could create enough news to maybe get some attention on this bullshit branding model.

"For the next week or so, we'll be accepting your proposed designs for a new HuffPost Politics logo. Once we have a good group together, we'll put them all up for a vote, which will inform the final pick."

So, we don't actually trust our users to make a good choice. The vote is strictly for marketing purposes.

"If yours wins, your icon will be used to represent this channel all over the interwebs -- with credit to you, of course."

Oh wow, all over the interwebs! Sheesh, at least 99 Designs at least pays you something.